Moonlight and the Magician by Evelynn Carver

Author:Evelynn Carver
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBTQIA+, gay, bisexual, fantasy/paranormal, mystery, magic/magic users, demons, enemies/rivals to lovers, road trip, action/adventure, family drama, shifters, HFN, cliffhanger
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2022-10-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

They rode through a small village the next day. It was a quiet place with a general store, a blacksmith, and only one or two other shops. They stopped briefly to pick up a few things for the road and to better equip the new horses they’d acquired at the farm. Brand, with some concentrated cajoling, had convinced Valentino to leave his purebred palomino mare behind and settle for one of a less flashy-looking breed and another fair parcel of cash. Valentino rather reluctantly said goodbye to his faithful horse. It had been a precious gift from a childhood friend, he said, and Brand was annoyed at himself for feeling a little jealous.

Valentino’s new horse was a serviceable bay, if considerably plainer and a bit more stubborn. Brand, too, exchanged his horse for a different one, a sturdy black stock horse. With the extra money, they were able to fit them out comfortably, but they needed more than just tack and oats for their journey.

They tied their new horses to the post and stepped into the general store. However, before Valentino could even glance at the offerings properly, Brand grabbed his arm and jerked him right back out of the building.

Out on the porch, Valentino tore his arm away. “What are you doing?” he growled.

“Shh!” Brand hissed, trying not to panic. “Be quiet! We can’t go back in there. We have to get out of here, right now!”

“Why in the Red Hills—”

“They’ve got wanted posters with my face on them in there!” Brand said in a rough whisper.

Valentino blinked. “Posters? Really?”

“Yeah, plain as day. Damn. I didn’t think they’d be able to spread notice so quickly and this far in front of us.”

“My mother is nothing if not resourceful.” Valentino sighed. “And those days at the farm set us back a bit, I suppose. She must have used those disgusting blood magic birds of hers to send them.”

Brand was caught completely off guard by such a startling statement. “Blood magic…birds?”

“Oh, you might not have encountered them in the South. Bloodgulls. Terrible beady-eyed things with a taste for blood and silver that will deliver messages for a price. They are illegal, of course, but that doesn’t mean much to a baroness.”

“Fantastic.” Brand groaned. Of course the Vicari family has blood magic birds. Of course. “Well, come on then. We have to skip town before anyone recognizes us.”

He took Valentino’s hand and started toward the horses. Valentino stayed rooted to the spot, however.

Brand glared at him, exasperated. “What are you doing? Come on!”

Valentino gazed back at the store with interest. “I’ll go in and get the things we need and take down the poster.”

Brand’s panic rose again. “What? Are you crazy? There’s one of you in there as well!”

“Indeed?” Valentino exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. “Oh, I have to see this!”

Before Brand could stop him, Valentino slipped out of his grip and strode into the store, leaving Brand sputtering on the stoop. Trying not to scream, Brand stood there stiffly against the wall, waiting with his head down and avoiding eye contact with passersby.

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